The Life Process
This is TR and me on a ride we did a few days ago. Beautiful CO days…
Of course today we’re expecting snow. Uggg. So far the weather hasn’t been too bad. I enjoy the time of year when you wear jeans and a light jacket … we’ll see what I am saying in a month when I have frostbite. 
A few days ago I brought some lasagna over to my friend Monica, and to meet her daughter, Alexandra. Both look beautiful 6-days after the birth, and it sounds like she and Gordo are adjusting well to their first week of parenthood.
I’ll tell you, that little peanut is already demonstrating her above-average physical abilities. Given her DNA (on both sides) I am not surprised. She was lying on my chest as Monica and I sat chatting on the couch; Alexandra kept lifting her head, full neck control, looking around, wanting to be involved, etc. At SIX DAYS OLD? I was so impressed! Monica beamed as a proud mommy and, of course, believed this confirmed Alexandra’s soon-to-be superior flip turn abilities.
Poor Monica was in labor for 36 hours. 
I truly cannot imagine. It sounded like a horribly difficult labor and birth process. While I won’t blog about the private details she disclosed, I will tell you my reflections on it all. By now I have had a large number of friends who, by specific criteria, would be defined as ELITE athletes in their sport: swimmers, runners, triathletes. As an elite athlete, the given assumption is that they are quite physically fit, have exceptional body awareness, and superior pain tolerance. I think women tend to have these skills in general, but most would agree that athletes rise to the top of these skills.
I have come to believe being an athlete doesn’t matter with the birth process. Some friends have had shockingly easy births, citing “I’m an athlete” as the only explanation. Conversely, other friends have gone into it thinking they had an advantage given their strength as an athlete – yet endured horrific births.
So… I think being an athlete doesn’t really matter. There doesn’t seem to be any data to conclude which way it will go for these women. Really profound discovery, huh?
Ahhh, but I digress.
After I left the Byrn’s, I sat in my car for a moment. Thoughts of Steve Brandt came to my mind. His memorial service was this day in Austin, TX. As I sat silently with my thoughts, I struggled with, yet felt comforted by, the circle of life concept. Steve was now gone from this world and from those who loved him … and now a new life has come. I don’t know how to make sense of it all, or what I am supposed to feel – so I just sat … and reflected …
As I started my car some movement in my peripheral vision caught my attention. I looked over to their neighbors yard and noticed a Mommy and baby deer. I sighed heavily and smiled. Life is all around us. One thing (perhaps the only thing?) we all know for certain is that it will keep going. I guess all we can do as individuals is get on board and try to make a difference, try to help one another, and try to enjoy the ride when we can.
